About the Book: Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical and Social
Context
For todays students to understand the history of sociologicaltheories, more is
required than a knowledge of formal propositionsand theoretical structures. In
this impressive and enduring text,Coser elucidates his examination of the ideas
of fifteeninfluential sociological thinkers with a discussion of the socialand
intellectual circumstances that surrounded them. Each of thefirst fourteen
chapters follows a parallel organization. The firstsections is a capsule summary
of the scholars work-his mainorientations, ideas, and contributions. Next is a
short sketch ofhis life-his struggles and successes; the influences of his
family,peers, and superiors; and his involvement in community affairs. Thethird
section locates